Another disappointing performance by Team India against South Africa. Against South Africa’s 489 runs, India was able to score only 201 runs in the first innings. SA captain Temba Bavuma could easily ask the home team for follow-on.
As in Kolkata, the Indian batsmen disappointed everyone in Guwahati. Only Yashasvi Jaiswal managed a half-century in the entire innings. Batting eighth, Washington Sundar made 48 off 92 balls, and Kuldeep Yadav made 19 off 134 balls. The Kuldeep-Washi pair added 72 runs for the eighth wicket. Proteas’ Marco Jansen took 6 wickets for 48 runs. India could have been forced to follow on, and the Proteas chose to bat again.
Ravi Shastri directly raised questions on Gautam Gambhir’s tactics
But former captain Ravi Shastri denies that the pitch played a major role in Team India’s batting and bowling. Regarding the pitch, former captain, coach, and commentator Ravi Shastri told STAR during the Indian innings, “It’s still a good pitch. It’s not the kind of pitch where the score should have been 145 for 7. The bowling wasn’t consistent either.”
Many experts are puzzled by the changes in the playing XI. During commentary on STAR SPORTS, Ravi Shastri said, “Washington Sundar was sent in at No. 3 in the last Test. This is incomprehensible. He doesn’t deserve to be sent in at No. 3 or 8.” According to Shastri, Washington Sundar shouldn’t be sent in at No. 3, if not even No. 8. He believes Sundar has batting talent and could have been sent up a bit higher.
Former captain, coach, and commentator Ravi Shastri has also raised questions about the team and coach Gambhir’s selection on STAR SPORTS. He says, “I don’t understand his thinking regarding team selection. The team went with four spinners in Kolkata, and one spinner only got to bowl one over. I think he should have gone with a specialist batsman instead of four spinners in Kolkata.”